The History of  ZK-PBY  (Serial No. CV-357, RCAF S. No.11054)

The New Zealand Catalina, registered ZK-PBY, was built under licence as a PBV-1A Canso A (A for amphibian) by Canadian Vickers in Cartierville, Quebec in March 1944. The aircraft, given the construction     number CV-357, was a later unit of 369 aircraft built by this plant. CV-357, entered service with the Royal Canadian Air force and allocated the service number 11054. It is known to have served with No 5 Squadron from bases in Newfoundland, Quebec and Nova Scotia.

Little is known about Sn. 11054’s war service. However Ronald McCLYMONT, at the time a Flight Officer with 5 Squadron based at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia has a couple of entries in his old “Flight Log”. An entry dated 29^th June 1944 shows that he had flown #11054 practicing “radio range” for an hour and twenty five minutes. A later entry dated 25^th September 1944 simply states another flight being a “TEST” Ron further stated that #11054 aircraft was equipped with “Leigh Light" illumination equipment for attacking submarines at night.

 #11054 was declared surplus and struck off charge on the 27^th June 1947, having accumulated only 1142.5 flying hours. 

Little is known of its whereabouts and activity between 1947 and 1955 when it appeared in Costa Rica and was converted to a 28-5ACF civilian aircraft by SALA in San Jose. This involved the removal of controls and gauges from the flight engineer’s pylon position and relocation in the cockpit. The front gun turret removed and a semi-clipper bow added. Other modifications were added for safety. The aircraft returned to Canada registered CF-JCV (later C-FJCV) and was operated by at least seven owners/operators including the Eastern Canada Stevedoring Company, Notre Dame Air Transport, Austin Airways, Aero Trades Western Ltd and Air Caledonia

By the late '80s the aircraft fell into disuse and was in storage at Reno, Nevada. In 1988 C-FJCV was purchased and refurbished for tourist flights down the Nile River by The Catalina Safari Company, Harare, Zimbabwe.

The route proving flight was documented for TV, by the BBC’s World Around Us in "The Last African Flying Boat". The Catalina was registered as Z-CAT and this became its nickname since. The Safaris continued until 1994 when political unrest in several African nations restricted civil aircraft operations.

October 1994 saw Z-CAT take its last epic journey when it travelled through 9 countries covering just under 10,000nm, in 90hrs over 13 days to arrive in New Zealand its new home. Today ZK-PBY is owned and operated by the Catalina Club of New Zealand, a non-profit organisation dedicated to keeping this aircraft airworthy for all to enjoy. The club is run by enthusiastic volunteers who share their enjoyment by participating in aviation and community activities and promoting the organisation around New Zealand. Membership is open to anyone wishing to help preserve this historical and rare Warbird as part of our heritage. The aircraft markings currently represent a PBY-5 operated by No 6 Squadron of the RNZAF in the Pacific between 1943-1951. The Catalina, Australasia's only airworthy example, is operated on water when possible but is restricted to fresh water lakes of which New Zealand has many to offer.

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